Just wanted to update. Turns out a number of quirks I was experiencing was due to my own error. Mainly, the big problem I was having was the screen going black with red artefacts at times when the resolution changed. The problem was intermittent, but required a hard reboot when it occured.

I mistakenly chalked it up to buggy Lucid Virtu software. Turns out, I still had the bloody hdmi cable plugged into the back of the discrete GPU. Bad idea, I guess. Stability under gaming scenarios is much improved after this change.

Hi Derek, your posts have been very helpful! Have you been consistently using the setup for gaming since your last post? I have just purchased that exact motherboard and have a Thunderbolt Display (I already had it, so it would be so nice to be able to use it consistently for games). I *can* get it reliably working in the native 2560x1440 resolution upon bootup in Windows 7. But my mileage with games when they have to flip resolution and use LucidLogix Virtu are varied, and generally poor at best. I've kind of gotten into that territory where I am now grasping at straws!

The main problem is the blank screens and red dots all over the display when the display changes resolution. I *have* managed to occasionally get Crysis 2 running in 1600x900 fullscreen using Virtu to much joy... but the problem is that it's *so* inconsistent. More than half the time, when I start Crysis 2 (or indeed any game that changes the resolution, including 3DMark11), the screen either goes blank or those horrible red dots you described fill the screen. *Sometimes* I can get the screen back by unplugging the TB cable, waiting for the hotplug sound and then plugging in again. Many times the only way to get a screen back though is to reboot, and this *****! Surely the red dots problem must be to do with timing issues on the cable?

Is there any chance you can provide us with your software versions? I.e. which BIOS version are you running? Which version of LucidLogix Virtu MVP? Which version of the Intel Chipset drivers?

I have mostly solved the problem you are describing, although I can't specifically say how, so I'm just going to spit out some troubleshooting methods.

1. Make absolutely sure there is nothing plugged directly into the graphics card. Only the thunderbolt cable should be plugged in. I had an hdmi cable in my card and when I took it out things got much better.

2. It seems as though there is a certain order you must install the software components:

1. Install the latest bios

2. Install the latest chipset

3. Install the latest gpu driver

4. Then re-install the latest Virtu version

I think the most important thing is you always have to re-install the virtu gpu software every time you change your graphics drivers. Also, if you are updating the integrated gpu and the external gpu drivers, always go internal, then external, then virtu.

Virtu is a fragile hacky software and I found it sensitive to the order of installation. Try that and see how it goes.

Hi Derick.... I have the p8z77-v Premium board.... Just built a new computer with a 680 Gtx... I have followed all of your instructions... For some reason I can't seem to get any games to load correctly if not load at all... HDMI monitors work just fine if I turn the IGPU off... -sigh-... I'm bout to give up on this thunderbolt... I'm bout to scream!

Firstly, don't despair! Thunderbolt on windows is cludgy (at best) and takes some patience to get to work. In order to help out, It's important to know about your relevant bios settings, graphics driver information, virtu mvp version, what games you are trying to play.

It goes without saying, you are using a slightly different motherboard than I am so it's possible you'll run into trouble. Also, so we're clear, you should not have an hdmi cable plugged into your gpu or mobo at all while the igpu is supposed to be virtualizing graphics through Virtu MVP.

Make sure you have multi-gpu enabled in the BIOS to allow for Virtu MVP to work. Also make sure you have Virtu MVP virtualization on through the MVP utility that runs in your system tray.

Usually, if something is wrong, the MVP control panel will throw up an error. If you get one, post it here.

If you're playing a game that isn't on the official MVP application list, your mileage will vary as to whether the virtualization will work well (or work at all).

Finally, never use graphics drivers (either for the iGPU or the dGPU) that are not whql or that are whql but released after the most recent virtu mvp version. Lucid writes their software to interface only with drivers that exist at the time. Newer drivers will often result in poor virtualization performance or break games altogether.

As I've said before: uninstall virtu mvp before making any changes to drivers on your computer and always install virtu as the last step in making any changes.

Let me know how things go (good or bad) in as much detail as possible. Also, simultaneously contact lucid using their web form at lucidlogix.com to file a support ticket while you're working away at the problem independently. If I can't help you, maybe they will be able to.

seems u have a big experience to plug TB imac monitor with Asus p8z77 pro\THunderbolt. I would like to know how exactly it works with display driver... On my PC i've two ati radeon 6970, I would like to buy that motherboard but i need to know if my two GPU will be used or not, because i don't know exactly how Virtu works. Please forgive me if I ignore this.

I'm a bit late on this conversation, but I wanted to give some input which may be helpful for others trying to use their Apple Thunderbolt Displays with a Windows PC. First i wanna start by saying that Originally I got a great deal on a Mac mini last summer. I also found a Thunderbolt display in very good condition with box, manual and warranty at a Killer price. I run OS X for everyday computing Web browsing, email, itunes, school work etc. I even installed Windows 7 tu run a few games. As i started to enjoy PC gaming a lot more, I descided tu build a gaming windows PC. And I wanted to use the fabulour Thunderbolt Display. So here is a list of the main components:

While the Thiunderbolt Display Works with no problems using dedicated graphics, I could not run my favorite games using Intel HD4000. So the tricky part is setting up the BIOS and installing the necessary software to run "integrated graphics" alongside "dedicated graphics."

Hello, man! Seems you are professional with this TB Display and Virtu MVP problems

Im gonna buy new gaming config, which will include Asus Maximus V Extreme (thunderbolt + Lucid) and GTX Titan. What do you think, will this work? No doubt in connecting display to this great mobo, but i dont know about working properly with GTX Titan. What do you think? How VIRTU is working with new 314 drivers? Only 314 drivers are compatible with Titan. Have you got email/skype, because im very worried about all this staff.

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